Lighting design

Lighting design aims not just for a bright room but for a well-lit one. It considers how much light each surface gets, where the light comes from, what color temperature it has, whether it causes glare, and how it will be controlled at different times of day. In a well-lit space you notice the room, not the fittings.

Layered lighting

Designers usually build light in three layers. Ambient lighting provides the base level for moving around safely. Task lighting focuses on surfaces where work happens, such as a kitchen counter, a desk or a mirror. Accent lighting picks out an artwork, a textured wall or an architectural detail. When these layers sit on separate circuits, the same room can change to suit different uses.

The concepts behind the decisions

Quantity of light is described in lumens and lux, its color by color temperature in kelvin, and its ability to show colors faithfully by the color rendering index (CRI). Glare control, the beam distribution of the fitting, the relationship with daylight and energy efficiency are part of the design as well. Lighting is drawn on the reflected ceiling plan and carried into the electrical design.

Seeing light before it is built

Lighting is among the hardest things to imagine before installation. Physically based rendering with IES light profiles simulates the real distribution of fittings, showing how light will wash a wall or whether corners will be left dark. To see interiors visualized this way, take a look at our interior visualization service.